Checking if a link is safe should be an involuntary instinct before you click on any link online, or in an email. We often get emails with tempting links like ”Check out this funny video!” or “ Click on this link to get 60% off on your next purchase” which may urge you to take action immediately, before checking for link safety. However, clicking on unsafe links can harm your device, lead to identity or credential theft, and even result in the loss of money. The worst part? Unsafe links may come from people close to you, like your friends, relatives, and even colleagues!

This article guides you with easy steps to check link safety and verify if the link is safe.

Key Takeaways

Checking links before clicking can prevent falling victim to phishing attacks and malware.
Verifying a link’s safety is essential for protecting your device and personal information from cybercriminals.
Using reliable tools and methods, such as URL inspection and SSL analysis, can help determine link safety effectively.
Keeping antivirus software updated is crucial for detecting potential security threats associated with links.
Utilizing browser extensions and link checkers enhances your ability to assess the safety of URLs before clicking.

Reasons to Check if a Link is Safe

Checking if the link is safe prevents you from falling victim to online threats like phishing and malware. Globally, 5.5 billion malware attacks were detected in 2022, with the majority occurring in the Asia-Pacific region.

Let us reveal some reasons why checking malicious link security is crucial:

Malware Protection: Checking if a link is safe is vital to shield your device from malicious software. Clicking on unsafe links can lead to the installation of harmful programs that can damage your computer or steal your data.
Fraud Prevention: Verifying link safety is a key measure against online fraud. Cybercriminals often use deceptive links to trick users into providing personal information, leading to identity theft or financial scams.
Phishing Defense: Safe link checks help guard against phishing attacks. Cyber attackers often disguise harmful links as trustworthy sources to trick users into revealing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, or credit card details.
Privacy Assurance: Confirming the safety of a link is essential to protect your privacy. Clicking on unsecured links may expose your personal information to unauthorized entities, compromising your online privacy.
Device Security: Ensuring link safety is fundamental for safeguarding your device. Clicking on unsafe links can introduce vulnerabilities that may be exploited by hackers, potentially compromising the security and functionality of your computer or smartphone.

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Manual Methods to Check if a Link is Safe

The link you clicked on might be unsafe. It is also possible that the site you are linking from might be malicious.

In either case, you need to check whether this URL is safe or not before you click on it. To prevent yourself from getting infected with malware, you should use online tools that can scan for any malicious code present in the web pages you visit.

Let’s have a look at various ways to check the safety of a link!

URL Inspection with Safe Browsing API

The safest way to check if a link is safe is to use the Safe Browsing API. This method will return warnings if the website has been reported for malware, phishing, or abusive content.

URL checkers can also detect attempted drive-by downloads and provide additional information about whether the site is secure or not.

SSL/TLS Protocol Analysis

The SSL/TLS Protocol Analysis tool will give you detailed information about the type of encryption used by a particular website. This can help you decide whether it’s safe enough to enter your personal information, such as credit card numbers, passwords, and more.

Code and Content Analysis

Analyzing code and content is also the best way to determine the safety of the link. You can do it either manually or with the help of various online tools.

Use these tools only when necessary because they can cause more harm than good when used carelessly or incorrectly.

Ensuring a Secure Connection

You should also ensure the link begins with “https://” before evaluating a link’s security. Encrypting data during transmission using SSL/TLS protocols guarantees a safe connection.

Also, check your browser’s address bar for a padlock icon or the word “Secure” to confirm this. This way, you’ll get to know ‘if this link is safe or not’!

Domain Trustworthiness Evaluation

The domain reputation of a link matters the most in identifying its security. Through reputable internet resources, you can easily find out any criminal activity associated with that link.

So, if you find that link credible, feel free to explore it without any hesitation.

Antivirus Vigilance for Links

Using antivirus software is also one of the best ways to check “Is this link safe?”. Just make sure your antivirus software is updated regularly. By doing so, you can detect malware risks.

Decoding HTML for Security

If you need help seeing what type of security you’re protecting against, a good first step is to decode the page and look at the code. You’ll find clues about where the script tags are placed and how they’re linked together — for example, whether they’re hosted on the same domain or set up as an iframe.

Insights from User Experiences

Reading customer reviews is a must. Based on the feedback, you might know exactly about the link’s authenticity. You will be able to make more informed and accurate decisions about that link based on the type of reviews. Platforms like Google Reviews and real reviews provide a space for customers to share their experiences and rate their satisfaction with a brand.

Link Expansion for Transparency

Use browser extensions or internet tools to enlarge truncated URLs for security reasons. By revealing the entire URL, a clear evaluation of the link’s destination can be made before engaging. As a result of this step, you are better equipped to assess the validity and safety of the connection.

Browser Shields for Online Security

Increase your online security by using reliable browser security plugins. These tools provide real-time analysis and alerts about potentially harmful websites during your browsing experience and dangerous connections.

By acting as an extra layer of defense, they aid in maintaining a safe online environment.

Proactive Network Traffic Monitoring

Keep an eye on network traffic and protect your online activities with specialized security tools. Security risks may be identified by identifying unusual behavior or patterns associated with a link’s access.

To ensure a safer online experience, this technique detects and eliminates dangerous activity.

What is a Link Checker?

An online link checker is a free link safety checker tool or software that allows you to determine the safety of a website or a link when you enter the URL in the tool’s search bar.

Safe link checkers help you make an informed decision as to whether the website is safe against viruses and malware that can infiltrate your system, whether the website is listed on any DNS blocklists for spam or malicious content, etc, by examining the entered URL for these factors and many more.

How to use an Online Link Checker?

To check link safety using an online link checker you need to follow the steps below:

To use a free link checker online, you need to open the tool and enter the URL of the website you want to check

Click on the “Check link” button
Examine the results displayed on the screen to verify link safety

Why do you need a URL Safety Checker?

A URL safety checker can help you check the safety and reliability of URLs with software that is instant and accurate. Here are some of the benefits of using a link safety checker that highlights its benefits:

Detect unsafe or malicious content present on the website that can potentially harm you
Prevent falling prey to phishing attacks and scams
Checking link safety can help you filter out inappropriate and explicit content, making the browsing experience safe – especially for children
Checking link safety can also prevent you from unintentionally downloading malware, viruses, and other potentially harmful data onto your devices

Final Words

Here, we have completed everything about the quickest and easiest ways to check if a link is safe to open and proceed. The only thing you should consider is being actively crucial. If you feel the link is suspicious, try not to open it without checking and ensuring its security. Always remember that a single click can end up costing you a lot!

About
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Ahona Rudra

Domain & Email Security Expert at PowerDMARC

Ahona is the Marketing Manager at PowerDMARC, with 5+ years of experience in writing about cybersecurity topics, specializing in domain and email security. Ahona holds a post-graduation degree in Journalism and Communications, solidifying her career in the security sector since 2019.

How to Check If a Link is Safe?